Our Bureau
Mumbai
The cricket world was shocked after the sudden news of Virat Kohli’s retirement as no one expected the Indian stalwart to retire out of the blue. Ravi Shashtri, former head coach of the Indian Cricket team, revealed yesterday that he had spoken to the star cricketer prior to his big announcement.
The former head coach revealed that Virat himself reached out to him to inform him about the announcement that he is going to make. Shashtri revealed that he had a conversation with Kohli in which he said that he has no regrets in his test career. The right-handed batter said that he had given everything he had in his 14-year career and is now at peace with it.
Ravi Shashtri said, “I did speak to him about it, I think a week before that (his announcement) and his mind was very clear that he had given us everything. There were no regrets. There were one or two questions I asked, and that is a personal conversation which, you know, he mentioned very clearly. There were no doubts in his mind, which made me think, ‘Yes, the time is right’. The mind has told his body that it’s time to go.”
Shashtri also talked about Virat’s undying grit and determination which he showed whenever he took the field. He said, “If he decided to do something, then he gave his 100 per cent, which is not easy to match. Individually, as a bowler, as a batsman a player does his job, [and] then you sit back. But [with Kohli] when the team goes out, it is as if he has to take all the wickets, he has to take all the catches, he has to make all the decisions on the field.”
“That much involvement, I would think there is going to be a burnout somewhere if he does not take a rest, if he does not compartmentalise how much he wants to play across formats, there is bound to be a burnout,” he added.
It was expected that Virat must have had a conversation with Shashtri as their close relationship and mutual admiration have been very public. Kohli and Shashtri together formed one of the most successful Captain and Coach duos in the history of Indian Cricket. They revolutionised the Indian Test side making them one of the best teams in the world.
